Garment finishing machine



Oct. 21, 1958 J E. KIEL GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June ll, 1956 w n\ 7 M m W ,v uw, Nw W NS m/ m .Sl .um 1 F @SIM m Rw M @w \SQ Y J B Q \v QS w @Q JS E v m M g2 NS vv SSW Q m m ..q 1 In V11 x i wm um mD N wm S m9 mm vm @Q Q NQ QS NS m uw mm um um Nm um Nm Q wm vm Oct. 21, 1958 .J E. KlEL 2,856,698

GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE Filed June ll, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIA k V* a 'E .9 Q LL L Ll Edgar K/e/ INVENTOR.

1 BY MWWZMW Oct. 21, 1958 J E. KIEL l GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE Filed June 1l. 1956 S wn vm m6 um. m/S m m \NS m. mm mm um 0| .H M Q f m 1 u m. .DQ Nm X. mv

r. S M. E 1m S Ef Y mv ww uw uw mm i J B f 1 um W Q N\ @Y n.. M m V\ s .\v\ vh QS www. wm mm um m5 uw @n mw mn/mm/ \m 1 f A SS ab ww Nm n mv vm, bm. @N .K mm uw um 4 QQ mb mm A um QW v SQ v 2,856,698 GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE J Edgar Kiel, Portage, Pa., assignor of fifty percent to Walter Moll, Portage, Pa.

Application June 11, 1956, Serial No. 590,573 11 Claims. (Cl. 34-66) This invention relates to machines for finishing garments and more particularly to a machine that is adaptedV which is capable of being installed in an existing dry cleaning plant in order to convert from standard practice to a more efficient garment finishing operation and capable of being installed as original equipment in a cleaning plant, the garment finishing machine which exemplifies the principles of the invention being semiautomatic, requiring monitoring in addition to applying and removing the garments, whereby only a minimum of paid help is required.

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a garment finishing machine which has a work table on which a group of dummies are propelled, each dummy being adapted to be tted with a garment that is to be cleaned at one area of the table and passing successively over steam applying stations, heated air applying stations and cooling air applying station, after which it passes to an area of the table that is reserved for manually removing the clothing from the dummy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structural improvement in automatic garment finishing machines wherein the particular organization of components coact to form what is considered to be a new, improved machine, with particular reference being made to the plan form configuration of the table on which the dummies are propelled and the arrangement of the specific devices'for applying steam, heated and cool air into the garment dummies.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved garment dummy to be used in connection with the garment iinishing machine, the improvement residing in the rotatable mount for an upright standard whereby the supported garment may be rotated as it is propelled from one station to the next.

Another specic feature of the invention is in the blower that functions as a source of air under pressure to be passed over a heated coil or coils so that the air l is preheated prior to entering the garment dummies, the

blower being so arranged that the inlet for it is controlled by a gate thereby unloading the blower impeller and permitting it to run free until such time as there is a requirement or demand made for the air of the blower. Accordingly, a further object of the invention is `to provide means on the endless conveyor that propels the dummies for actuating the steam, heated and cool air applying devices in response to the approach of or the actual entry of the dummies into the various stations along the table, each station having in it an opening in the table through which the steam, heated `or cool air passes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter descibed and claimed, reference being had to the accom- United States Patent O panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a machine that has been constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the machine in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of a part of the :machine in Figure 2, portions of the table and the dummies being removed;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 and showing the steam nozzle at the steam application station;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing principally one of the dummies at the lower end thereof, and;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-8 of Figure 2 and showing one way of adjusting the drive belts for the endless conveyor that constitutes part of the means for propelling the dummies on the dummy supporting table.

In the accompanying drawings there is a garment iinishing machine 10 that has been constructed in accordance with the invention. This machine includes an oval table 12 whose top is flat and which is supported by vertical braces 14 that rise from the lower frame 16 and that are attached to an upper frame 18. The frames may be made of angle iron or other common structural supporting members. The same holds true for the legs. lt is preferred that the table top be oval shaped in order to enlarge the capacity of the machine. `Endless conveyor 20 is also arranged in an oval and located on the table top at 'a place spaced inwardly from the periphery of the top. The endless conveyor consists of a chain 22 entrained around sprockets 24 and 26. The sprockets are similarly mounted. For example, sprocket 24 (Figure 4) is mounted for rotation on a vertical spindle 29 which is rotatably supported in bearing 30 carried by plate 32. The plate is disposed on a pair of rails 33 and 34 welded or otherwise xed to a part of the table support and is adjustable by rotation of adjustment screws 35 and 36 in xed brackets 37 and 38 and contacting upwardly extending brackets 39 and 40 on the plate 32. Sprocket 26 has a double pulley 42 bolted to its undersurface and is mounted for rotation on a spindle that is supported in vertical bearing 44 on plate 46. The plate is welded or otherwise connected directly to parts of the table support, and legs 14 thereof. Upwardly opening channels 49 and 50 respectively are xed to the table 12 near the inner periphery thereof and along its longer sides. These channels constitute guides for the flights of the conveyor chain 22, constraining the motion thereof.

Sprocket 26 is the driver for the endless conveyor. An electric motor 52 is disposed on an adjustable plate `54 and drives pulley 56 through belt 57, the latter being entrained over pulley 56 and also entrained over pulley 58 that is fixed to the shaft of the motor 52. The pulley 56 is on shaft 60 and protrudes from gear reducer 62, the latter being carried by plate 54 and having a double pulley 64 driven by it. Belts 66 are entrained around pulley 42 and also around pulley 64, whereby upon energization of the motor 52 there is a drive connection between it and the endless conveyor through the de scribed intermediate structure. In order to tighten the belts 66, screws 69 and 70 are adjusted.V Although the adjustment screws may be arranged in several ways, a suggested arrangement is disclosed in Figure 8. I The screw 69 isA illustrated as being mounted .for rotation in the steam 'applying stations. of-v the type which automatically open when arm 98 passes i-ward of the steam applying'station.

-an upstanding bracket`71 that is carried by angle iron Ybeing vconstrained in its movement by lmeans ofvv pins 75 that-areinslots 76V ofthe angleiron bracket 72.

Thereare anumberof similar'dummies'ltl (Figure 7) -mounted on thetable "12x lTypicalfdummy Stihas a vertical post 82 provided with a garment supporting member 84- atfthe top thereof. Vertical post 82 has its lower Vend reducedand'fiitted into an anti-friction-bearing 86 that is supported on-spider/SS oran equivalent. The spider has casters 90 which are adapted to rest on the surface of `table 12. -A skirt 91issupported atthelower extremity of the post 82 by means of braces 92. IThe skirt is spaced -from the-top surfaceof the table"a`nd accordingly there is an asbestos sheet 94 clipped as at 95to it and depending downwardly to contact'the upper'surface of the table 12.

The skirt and "sheet lprevent-the escape of'steam, hot and cool air during the cycle of operation of the'machine.

Each dummy is provided with an arm 98`which prortrudeslaterally from the bottom"thereofand which is riveted or otherwise attached to the conveyorchain 22. An additional part or an integral part of the arm' 98 for each dummy proceeds inwardly of the chain in'order to trip'the various lswitches in the lpath of travel ofthe conveyor during normal operationof the machine.

The table 12 has a work commencing area 100 where an operator fits garments `onto the dummies as they pass by at a slowenough speed to have the worker operate satisfactorily. From area 100 (Figure 2) the dummies proceed to the irst station 102 which has two steam nozles 104 and l106 directed upwardly'within the skirt ofthe dummy. In this way steam enters the dummy from below and passes through the garment that is on the dummy in order to steam clean the garment.

Steam line 108 extends from a source of steam under pressure to the steam chest`110. An outlet pipe 112 is arranged to feed the nozzle 104, and there is a solenoid `controlled valve 114 in the steam pipe 112. Steam pipe 108 has a branch 116 feeding steam chest 120 from which outlet pipe 122 extends. This outletpipe (Figure 6) terminates in nozzle `106 and has a solenoid operated'valve 124 in order to control the'discharge 'of steam'from the chest 120. Each nozzlexconsists of a perforated tube 125 around which there is a screen 126. Casing 128 is arranged in registry with opening 130 at station 106 and has the perforated tubelocated therein.

IThe-solenoid valves 114\and 124 are actuated from a suitable sourcey of electrical'energyand arecontrolled by 'switches136' and 137 that'are'mounted on the interior l'part oflthe table 12 and adjacent to the steam applying station. Switcl '136 is supported by brackets from the upper frame 18 ofthe table support while switch 137 is similarly supported. The-switches have switch arms 138 and 139"respectively that are contacted and actuated by thearms 9S ofthe dummies as they approach and enter Switches 136 and 137 are thereover.

' A heated air station'142 is located on the table 12 for- The heated air is applied to the dummies by Iblowing -upwardly through `.openings 143 and `144 in the table. `There are a pair of ,centrifugal blowers 145 and 146 located within the table 12 andare actuated by -motors'147 and 148. These motorsy may be continually operated whilethe machine is in -use, .butlthe air administered to the dummies is applied intermittently in air blasts. This is achievedby having figates 150 and 151 remain in a normally closed position -with-y respect to the blower inlets and opened by means of u solenoids 153 and 154 that are carried by the casings of thev blowers. The solenoids are energized from a suitable fsourcei. as ordinary electrical service; and'they are conf.-.trblled ny-switchesv 156 and l157 having switch arms `158 .4 and 159 which protrude in the path of arms 98 of the dummies.y Therefore; as the dummies approachand enter station 142 and specifically, as the dummies have their lower ends come in registry with openings 143 and 144 respectively, the solenoids are energized thereby opening gates and 151 respectively and loading the impeller of the centrifugal blower so that air is delivered through the outlet of each of the' blowers. When the gates are closed nio air is-able to enter the blower housings and the motor for each blower rotates the impeller thereof freely so that little orno electrical 'energy is required'during this time.

As seen best inFigure 3, the outlets ofthe blowers 145 and 146 are fitted with ducts 161 and 162 which are in `stry with chests 164 and 165 having steam coils there- .ed by steam lines 108. The outlets for the chests 164 and 165 are in registry with openings 144 and 143 whereby as the dummies move through station 142 and have their bottom open'ends in registry with 'openings 1'43 and '144, blasts vof'hot air pass into the dummiesandniore particularly the'garrnents supported" thereon.

A cool airA applying station is located 'forward of -the hot air applying station 142 and it comprises a blower lof the dummies, maybe used to control the motor 172. Alternatively,` the motor 172' may be continually' 'operative. vIn the former lcase the'application of cold^`air would `be responsive to the approach and entry of on'e'of the dummies into station 170, and in`th` latter Vcase the cool air would'b'e applied continuously.

' After passing station'172 the dummiesv enter'a'real'lSO of the table 12 where an operatorremoves the garments from the dummies and stacks them or otherwise handle them,as byplacing them on racks.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown 'and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A garment finishing apparatus'comprising a conveyor, a table, said conveyor supported on said table, a garment dummy mounted on said table, means securing said dummy to said conveyor for rnovementwiththe latter,fsuccessive stations connected with said table 'and arranged to be operatively associated with said dummy as it is propelled by said conveyor, means at therst station to apply steam to the garment supporting dummy, means at a secondstation on said table for applying heated air to the garment dummy, means at a third station for applying .cold air to the garment dummy, and means carried Iin part by said conveyor and in part operatively connected with each of said applying means to actuate'the latter when said dummy is in registry therewith.

2. In a garment iinishing apparatus, a table, a plurality of garment dummies, means rotatably supporting said dummies on said table, means including a conveyor adjacent to said table and connected to said dummies to propel the dummies along the table, said table having one area where the dummies are adapted to be manually tted with garments, steam applying means forfthefgarment dummies ladjacent'to said area and including a source of steam having a valve control, meansactuated by the conveyor to open thevalve control when a garing means to control said air source when one of said dummies is there adjacent, and each of said applying means having an outlet which is directed into said dummies.

3. In a garment finishing apparatus, a table, a plurality of garment dummies, means rotatably supporting said dummies on said table, means including a conveyor adjacent to said table and connected to said dummies to propel the dummies along the table, said table having one area where the dummies are adapted to be manually fitted with garments, steam applying means for the garment dummies near said area, heated air applying means near said steam applying means and having means movable with said conveyor dummy to actuate said steam applying means when a garment dummy is in registery therewith, a source of air under pressure adjacent to said steam applying means and having means movable with said conveyor to control said air source when one of said dummies is thereadjacent, and each of said applying means having an outlet which is directed into the dummies.

4. In a garment finishing apparatus, a table, a plurality of garment dummies, means rotatably supporting said dummies on said table, means including a conveyor adjacent to said table and connected to said dummies to propel the dummies along the table, said table having one area where the dummies are adapted to be manually fitted with garments, steam applying means for the garment dummies adjacent to said area, heated air applying means adjacent to said steam applying means, a source l of air under pressure adjacent to said steam applying means, and each of said applying means having an outlet which is directed into said dummies.

5. In a garment finishing apparatus, a table, a plurality of garment dummies, means rotatably supporting said dummies on said table means including a conveyor adjacent to said table and connected to said dummies to propel the dummies along the table, said table having one area where the dummies are adapted to be manually fitted with garments, steam applying means for the garment dummies adjacent to said area and including a source of steam having a valve control, means actuated by the conveyor to open the valve control when a garment dummy approaches said steam applying means, heated air applying means adjacent to said steam applying means and having means movable with said conveyor to actuate said steam applying means when a garment dummy is registered therewith, a source of air under pressure adjacent to said steam applying means and having means to control said air source when one of said dummies is thereadjacent, each of said applying means having an outlet which is directed into said dummies said table having an area in advance of said air source at which the garment dummies are adapted to be stripped, said table being oval shaped with the conveyor also oval shaped and located inwardly of the periphery of the table.

6. In a garment finishing apparatus, a table, a plurality of garment dummies, means rotatably supporting said dummies on said table, means including a conveyor adjacent to said table and connected to said dummies to propel the dummies along the table, said table having one area where the dummies are adapted to be manually fitted with garments, steam applying means for the garment dummies near said area and including a source of steam having a valve control, means actuated by the conveyor to open the valve control when a garment dummy approaches said steam applying means, means to direct the steam upwardly into the dummies, heated air applying means adjacent to said steam applying means and including a blower provided with an air inlet and outlet, a gate arranged to control said inlet, said table having an opening over which said dummies are adapted to pass, a

heater, and means to conduct air from said outlet over said heater and to said opening.

7. A garment finishing machine comprising a table, an endless conveyor adjacent to said table, a plurality of dummies connected to said endless conveyor and movable on said table in response to actuation of said endless conveyor, said dummies having openings in the bottoms thereof through which steam and air are adapted to pass so that garments supported on said dummies are treated by the steam and air, a steam applying device havan outlet directed generaly upwardly and in the path of travel of said dummies, means including a switch having a switch operator and an arm arranged for movement synchronously with said dummies for actuating said opcrater in order to control the actuation of said steam appl g device, an air applying device having an outlet di cted inwardly of the dummies, and control means .'"Ior administering air to the dummies as they pass beyond said switch.

8. ln a machine to finish garments, the combination of an oval table and an oval endless conveyor located adjacent thereto, a plurality of dummies attached to said conveyor for movement therewith, said dummies having means to rollingly support them on said table, said table having a rst opening therein through which steam is adapted to pass, means for applying steam under pressure through said opening and onto the garments carried by said dummies when one of said dummies is over said opening, a second opening located near said first opening, and means for forcibly passing heated air through said second opening and onto the garments of a dummy as the dummy approaches and passes over said second openmg.

9. In a machine to finish garments, the combination of an oval table and an oval endless conveyor located adjacent thereto, a plurality of dummies attached to said conveyor for movement therewith, said dummies having means to rollingly support them on said table, said table having a first opening therein through which steam is adapted to pass, means for applying steam under pressure through said opening and onto the garments carried by said dummies when each of said dummies passes over said opening, a second opening located near said first opening, means for forcibly passing heated air through said second opening and onto the garments of a dummy as the dummy approaches and passes over said second opening, control means rendered operative in response to movement of said dummies toward and over said openings, said control means operatively connected to said means for applying steam through said irst opening and said means for applying heated air through said second opening.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said endless conveyor includes a chain, a pair of sprockets which are spaced from each other, means supporting one of said sprockets for adjustment toward and away from the other of said sprockets in order to tighten said chain, and means on said table for constraining the flights of said conveyor chain.

11. The combination of claim 10 and means adjacent to said second opening in said table for applying cool air into the bottoms of the dummies as the bottoms of the dummies pass over the last mentioned means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,759,179 Wiesman May 20, 1930 1,763,193 Shields June 10, 1930 1,926,694 Berger et al. Sept. 12, 1933 2,550,559 I-Ieldmaier Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 327,179 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1930 

